Former Black Stars of Ghana striker, Abedi Pele Ayew has predicted a clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Indomitable Lions of Cameroon for the Nations Cup final due to kick-off on Saturday in Tunis.

Pele disclosed this in an interview with the Cable Network News (CNN) monitored in Lagos yesterday saying that "the two countries are well matched owing to their array of stars in addition, they have got enough experience and exposure internationally."

"Nigeria and Cameroon teams are the clear favourites. Each of the teams have the players that can win a match any day. The teams have sharp attackers and what Nigeria may have lacked in the defence, it makes up with skills, unlike Cameroon that has good attackers as well as a good defence," he said.

On the presence of the Senegalese team, the Teranga Lions, Abedi noted that "although, the team got to the quarter-finals of the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, their form in recent times has been suspect and blamed it partly on their former coach (Metsu) who left after the World Cup finals."

He, however, warned that teams he described as new comers like the Republic of Benin and Mali should be respected by well-established teams. According him, "such teams are used to springing surprises when it is least expected."

On the declining form of his country's national team, the Black Stars, Pele said "Ghana has failed in Africa owing to problems that has to do with coaches and administrators who had nurtured the team in the past." He, however, assured that the Black Stars would be back and assume their rightful position on the continent.

On CAF election coming up tomorrow, the former African footballer of the year, stressed that the candidate with the best policy of moving African soccer forward administratively, should win.

He also advised that "Africa's soccer ruling body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) should harmonise its Nations Cup time table to tally with that of Europe to forestall problems which always occur when the issue of players release arises.